Patent Application
`Atty. Docket No. GWLG-Ol7US-CIP
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`CLAIMS
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`1.
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`A method of diagnosing endometriosis in a mammal comprising the steps of: determining
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`the expression levels of BDNF, glycodelin, and optionally ZAG, in a biological sample from the
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`mammal and comparing the level of each to a pre-determined level associated with
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`endometriosis; and diagnosing the mammal with endometriosis when the levels of BDNF,
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`glycodelin and optionally ZAG are each elevated to the predetermined level associated with
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`endometriosis.
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`2.
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`The method of claim 1, wherein the level of BDNF associated with endometriosis is 800
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`pg/ml or greater, the level of glycodelin associated with endometriosis is 39 ng/ml or greater, and the
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`level of ZAG associated with endometriosis is 92 pg/ml or greater.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`The method of claim 1, wherein the BDNF is total plasma BDNF.
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`The method of claim 1, wherein the BDNF is mBDNF.
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`The method of claim 1, including the additional step of treating endometriosis in the
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`mammal with pain medication, hormone therapy or surgery.
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`6.
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`The method of claim 5, wherein hormone therapy is selected from hormonal contraceptives,
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`gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists or antagonists optionally in combination with
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`estrogen or progestin, progestin therapy, contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection and steroid
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`treatment to suppress the growth of the endometrium.
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`7.
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`A method of monitoring a mammal following treatment of endometriosis comprising:
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`determining the level of a biomarker selected from BDNF or glycodelin in a biological
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`sample from the mammal and comparing the biomarker level to a control pre-treatment
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`biomarker level to determine if the biomarker level is elevated compared to the control level;
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`and
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`determining that the mammal is responding to treatment when the biomarker level is
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`decreasing in comparison to the control level.
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`8.
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`A kit comprising a BDNF-specific reactant, a glycodelin-specific reactant, and optionally
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`a ZAG-specific reactant for use in a method as defined in claim 1.
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`Patent Application
`Atty. Docket No. GWLG-Ol7US-CIP
`
`9.
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`The kit of claim 8, wherein the reactants are selected from a nucleic acid probe, an
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`antibody or a substrate.
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`10.
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`The kit of claim 8, wherein the reactants are each associated with an indicator that yields
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`a detectable signal when the reactants bind to their target biomarker.
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`11.
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`The kit of claim 8, wherein the reactants are bound to a microchip.
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`12.
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`The kit of claim 8, wherein the reactants are bound to an electrochemical biochip.
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